Washing-machine



A. M. DOW.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1919.

1,3 2,2 Patented 1390.14, 1920.

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Atfys.

A. M. DOW.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. I919.

1 3 2 240 Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

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WASHING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. 1919.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

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UNITED STATES .ALVA M. DOW, OF BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec.14, 1920,

Application fil ed June 2, 1919. Serial No. 301,209. g i

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALVA M. Dow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Braintree, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, and whose ost-oflice address is 4:6 Lemoyne street raintree Massachusetts, have invented. an Improvement in Washing Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a washing machine and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient machine of this character which will insure the washing of the clothes in a thorough manner without injury thereto.

The object of the invention is further to provide a machine in which the tub containing the clothes shall be unobstructed at the interior so that nothing shall come into contact with the clothes to injure or tear them and in which the washing or cleansing operation shall be performed by the water or cleansing fluid being brought into intimate contact with the clothes as they slide along the sides and are tossed or thrown from one side to the other of the interior of the tub.

The object of the invention is further and more specifically to provide a tub having substantially the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped mounted to rotate upon an axis passing through to opposite sides of the tub at points similarly disposed to but at opposite positions with respect to the centers of the said sides whereby during the rotation of the tub the clothes will be thrown back and forth from one flat side of the tub to another and slid back and forth along the sides and thus thoroughly shaken up and brought into contact with the cleansing fluid.

The object of the invention is further to provide a tub of the foregoing character in which the sides and particularly those sides through which the axis of rotation does not pass are reticulated as by being formed of spaced slats so that as the tub is rotated partially immersed in a tank of water or cleansing fluid the fluid will be splashed and sucked into and out of the tub and into and out of contact with the clothes. I

The object of the invention is further to provide a washing machine having a pump connected with the tank by means of which the water or cleansing fluid may readily be removed from the tank,

I The object of the invention is further to provide a washing machine having a tank containing a rotating tub. a wringer, a pump for removing the cleansing fluid from the tank, a motor or other driving element, and

means for independently connecting either the tub, the wringer, or the pump or any combination thereof to said motor or driving element so that either may be operated independently or in any desired combination. 0

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings particularly pointed out in the Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1. v I M I Fig. 3 is a detail in vertical transverse sectionshowing the connection between the driven shaft and the tub. t

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical cross section enlarged and partially broken away taken on theline 4 4 of Fig. 2. l

Fig. 5 is a vie'w in side elevation of the tub with the interior outline of the tank indicated in dotted lines. 1

Fig. 6 is a front elevation ofthe tub with the interior outline'of the tank indicated in dotted lines. 0

The main elements of the washing machine are supported upon a frame which i may be constructed in any suitable manner and is herein shown as chiefly composed of angle irons. The frame is shown comprise 111g four vertical uprights 1 which may be provided with casters 2, a series of transverse struts 3 located a short distance from the lower ends of the uprights and securing them together. A pair of struts 4 at the sides of the frame connecting the uprights 1 at the-top, a pair of uprights 5 connecting the struts 3 and lat each side of the frame,

a pair of struts 6 extending at the sides of the frame between the struts 1 at the bottom, and a bed plate 7 mounted on the struts 6 and having an extension 8 projecting at one side of the frame.

The tank for containing the water or cleansing fluid is preferably made of sheet metal and extends between the top of the frame and the struts 3. This tank 9 has its sides preferably of U shape so as to present a semi-cylindrical shape at the bottom.

A suitable cover 10 for the tank is provided and mounted to slide into place at the top of the frame.

The tub, a preferred form of which is shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6 where the outline of the tank is indicated in dotted lines, is substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. That is to say, each of its six sides forms substantial rectangle. Preferably the tub is substantially in the form of a cube. The term substantially is used because it is desirable to slab off four of the corners of the tub as illustrated and thus without materially altering the capacity of the tub enable a smaller tank to be employed.

The axis of rotation of the tub passes through bearings on two of the opposite sides of the tub at points similarly disposed but in opposite positions with respect to the centers of the said sides. Thus as the tub is rotated the clothes in the interior of the tub slide along the sides and are thrown or dropped from one side to the other and thoroughly agitated. This peculiar method of operation by which the clothes are forced to slide back and forth in the direct-ion of the axis of rotation and by which the clothes are thrown or dropped from one fiat side to another of the six sides of the tub prevents the clothes from becoming balled up or assuming any particular position in the tub and insures the thorough and intimate contact of the water or cleansing fluid with all parts of the clothes.

All of the six sides of the tub, but in any event the four sides upon which the bearings are not located, are reticulated to enable the water in the tank to be sucked or splashed in and out of thetub as the tub is rotated in the tank.

In the preferred construction illustrated all the six sides of the tub are formed of transverse slats 11 slightly seoarated to provide spaces 12 and each slat is further provided at regular intervals with small cylindrical apertures 13. These apertures 13, as clearly shown in the portion of the tub at Fig. 5, are counter-sunk in the interior and preferably at the exterior also. This counter sinking of the ends of the apertures 13 insures the ready passage of the water back and forth therethrough and also prevents any rough edges at the interior to catch or nal sockets 15 extend from points similarly disposed but at opposite positions with respect to the centers of these sides. That is to say, in the preferred form illustrated, the bearing plate 1% with its socket 15 at the right hand side in Fig. 5 is at a given distance below the center of that side where the corresponding opposite bearing plate is at the same distance above the center of its side. This arrangement brings the axis of rotation parallel to two of the sides and reduces the space occupied by the tub in its rotation but any desired points for the location of the bearing plates may be selected within the broader scope of the invention so long as the axis of rotation passes through to opposite sides of the tub at points similarly disposed to but at opposite positions with respect to the centers of the said sides.

The sockets 15 contain bearing studs 16 and 17 respectively held in place in the sockets by pins 18. These bearing studs are seated in open mouth bearings formed in the bearing members 19 mounted at the interior of the tank and extending transversely be tween and secured through the tank to the uprights 5. It will thus be seen that the tub with its bearing studs can be lifted from the open mouth bearings 19 and removed from the tank when required for repair or cleansing.

The operation of the tub, of the wringer, and of the pump already referred to may be secured from any suitable source of power, but preferably the machine is provided with a motor such as an electric motor 20 mounted on the bed plate 7 and driving a shaft 21. Electric connections are indicated at 22 at a convenient point near the top of the tub and the wires, not shown, extend down the framework therefrom to the motor.

The tank is provided at the bottom with an outlet 23 controlled by a hand valve 24 and connected with a pipe or hose 25. A pump 26 which may be of any suitable character is mounted on the bed plate 7 and connected at 27 with the pipe or hose 25. A. clutch 28 maintained closed by the helical spring 29 and opened by pulling on the rod 30 enables the pump to be connected to and disconnected from the motor when desired. A suitable catch locks or frictionally holds the clutch in open position.

This arrangement enables the Water or cleansing fluid in the tank to be readily removed and discharged at any convenient point and eliminates the necessity of connecting the machine to a sewerage system or of draining the water or cleansing fluid off and carrying it away from themachine.

The machine also is provided with a wringer which may be of any suitable type. As shown, the wringer comprises a suitable frame 31 in which are mounted the wringer rolls 32 and 33. The wringer frame is securely bolted or secured to a bracket 34 and the wringer frame is preferably ar ranged as shown in an inclined position so that as the clothes are taken from the tub they feed downwardly between. the wringer rolls and are thus easily drawn in between the rolls and discharged downwardly into a suitable receptacle.

The mechanism for operating the tub and the wringer is mounted at the exterior and at one side of the frame and all the working parts are inclosed in a metal casing. A split metal sleeve 35 is rigidly secured to transverse supports 36 extending between the uprights and this split sleeve is clamped and unclamped by a screw operated by a handle 37. The gear casing 38 is secured thereto,

or is cast integral with, the wringer supporting bracket 34 and is provided with a shouldered sleeve 39 passing down into the split sleeve Thus when the split sleeve is clamped upon the sleeve 39 the gear casing 38 with the bracket 34 and the wringer is rigidly held in place and at the same time means are thus providedfor adjustin the wringer at any desired horizontal ang e.

From the split sleeve 35 a shaft casing 40 extends downwardly to the tub gear casing 41 which is rigidly secured to transverse supports 37 extending between the uprights 5 from the gear casing 41. The shaft casing 40 continues on down to the gear casing 42 mounted on supports 43 from the bed plate 7. A vertical shaft 44 extends up through the gear casings 42, 41 and 38 and the shaft casing 40. This vertical shaft 44 at its lower end is provided with a worm wheel 45 in engagement with and driven by a worm 46 mounted on the shaft 21. The shaft 21 is preferably formed in two sections united by a rubber coupling 47 to take up any sudden shock or jar.

It will thus be seen that when the motor is in operation the shaft 44 is continuously operated in one direction,

In the gear casing 41 the shaft 44 is provided with a beveled gear 48 loosely mounted thereon and journaled in the gear casing. A sleeve 49 is splined to the shaft 44 in the gear casing 41 and provided with an exterior operating handle 50. This sleeve 49 is provided with a projection 51 adapted to seat in a corresponding recess in the beveled gear 48 so that by operating thehandle '50 the gear casing 41and engages by separable joint connections 54. Theend of the bearing stud 16 which as'already explained is secured to the tub. Thus, by operating the handle the tub is connected to or disconnected from the shaft 44 as desired.

At the upper end the wringer roll 32 is provided with a shaft extending into the gear casing 38 and carrying a beveled gear 55in mesh with oppositely disposed beveled gears 56 and 57 loosely mounted on the shaft 44. A collar 58 is splined to the shaft 44 between the beveled gears 56 and 57 and is provided with projections 59 adapted to fit in corresponding recesses in the opposed beveled gears. This collar is connected to a rack 60 operated by a pinion 61 secured to a handle 62' on the exterior of the gear casing 38. Consequently by moving the handle 62' in one direction or the other the collar 58 will be connected to one or the other of the beveled gears 56and57 and the rotation of the wringer rolls secured in either direction desired. When the wringer is not in use the collar 58 is moved into the neutral position shown in Fig. 4. Y It will thus be seen that by operating the push rod 30 the handle 50 and the handle 62-, either the pump, the tub, or the wringer may be connected to the driven shaft, each independently of the other, or in any combi nation as desired. In the operation of the machine, th cover 10 of the frame is removed and the clothes placedin the tub. For this purpose the tub is provided with a suitable door shown as composed by hinging a group of the slats at 63 and this cover is maintained closed as by'suitable turn buttons 64. After the clothes have beenplacedin the tub the tank is partially filled with water preferably to a level somewhat below the axis of rota tion, the cover 10 is replaced, the handle 50 is pushed downwardly to clutch the tub to the driving shaft, and the motor started. As the tub revolves its fiat sides slap against the water in the tank forcing the water in and out between the slats and through the moved, the tub opened and thecl'othes are ready to be fed to the wringer. The handle 62 is now moved to cause the wringer rolls to rotate and the clothes are fed to the wringer. If the clothes stick, or if for any reason it is desired to feed the clothes in the opposite direction, the handle 62 is swung in the opposite direction causing a reverse rotation of the wringer rolls. After the clothes have been wrung out the wringer is disconnected from the driving shaft by operating the handle 62 to bring the collar to neutral position. The water is then removed from the tank by pushing on the handle 30 to clutch the motor to the pump and pump the water out. Rinsing operations may be formed by filling the tank with fresh water and repeating the operation.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is- 1. A washing machine comprising a tank for the cleansing fluid, a tub inclosed within the tank and having substantially the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having some of its sides reticulated and mounted to rotate on an axis extending through opposite sides at points similarly disposed to but at opposite positions with respect to the centers of said sides whereby when the tank is partly filled and the tub partly immersed in the cleansing fluid the articles being cleansed will during rotation of the tub slide along the sides and be periodically lifted by the sides of the tub successively and dropped into the fluid and whereby the water in the tank will be forced back and forth through the reticulati'ons into and out of contact with the articles.

2. A washing machine comprising a tank for the cleansing fluid, a tub inclosed within the tank and having substantially the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having some of its sides reticulated and mounted to rotate on an axis extending through opposite sides at points similarly disposed to but at opposite positions with respect to the centers of said sides and ex tending in parallelism with two of the other sides, and means for rotating the tub partly immersed in the cleansing fluid on its axis to cause the articles zbeing cleansed to slide along the sides the direction of the axis of rotation and to fall successively against all six sides of the tub and to cause the water in the tank to be forced back and forth through the reticulations into and out of contact with the articles.

3. A washing machine comprising a tub having substantially the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, a tank inclosing the tub and adapted to hold cleansing fluid suflicient for the partial immersion of the tub, journal bearings between the tank and tub on the exterior ofopposite sides of said tub projecting along an axis at points similarly disposed to but at opposite positions with respect to the centers of the said sides with the axis of rotation extending in parallelism with two of the other sides, and having the four sides from which said bearings do not project reticulated whereby when the tank is partly filled and the tub partly immersed in the cleansing fluid the articles being cleansed will during rotation of the tub slide along the sides in the direction of the axis of rotation and be periodically lifted by the sides of the tub successively and dropped into the fluid.

at. A washing machine comprising a frame, a tank for the cleansing fluid supported by said frame, a tub mounted for ro tation in the tank, a motor mounted on the frame, a pump mounted on the frame connected to the tank and acting when operated to remove the cleansing fluid from the tank and enable it to be discharged upward against the force of gravity, and means for connecting to and disconnecting from the motor either the tub or the pump.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALVA M. DOV. 

